Template cutting machine



Oct. 7, 1952 w. KIRKMAN ET AL 2,612,689

TEMPLATE CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 17. 1948 v s sheets-sheet 1 Oct.- 7, 1952 w. KIRKMAN ET AL 2,612,689

TEMPLATE CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 17. 1948 a Sheets-Sheet 2 lhwentors 8g la'laa 25mm 046a fiX/zmyze attornega Oct. 7, 1952 w. KIRKMAN ET AL TEMPLATE CUTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 17, 1948 flfm J QQQ m 3% 2&6? Zia/M2465 t fornegg Patentecl Oct. 7, 1952 TEMBLATE CUTTING MACHINE Wiii-iam'Kirkman and'Gilbcrt J. Barnett, Ottawa, 111.,- assi'gnors to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass CompanmlFoledm-Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application July-17, 1948, Serial No. 39,226

The present'invention relates-to cutting Inachines generally, and more particularly toan improvement in so-ca'lled template type cutting mac-bin es which are designed primarily" for cutting shapes of predeterminedsize'and outline from plates or sheets of 'g'l'assf. j I

Such cutting machines usually comprise a track ype template, mc'untedabove a'cutting tabI-aand having associated-therewith a, quitting unit movable on the track and. including acutting tool. designed for cutting engagement with a plateuof glass onthe table to score the same during moveen of h i'ns unit ,ar nndith template.

Although "this invention is not restricted thereto, it has particular utilitywhjen used in connection with a cutting machine ofthis type. Briefly stated, the invention, contemplates the combination, with such a machine, of a. special retardingv element adapted "toflfllqdify, andspec-ifically, to reduce, the sp'eed j oi movement of the cutting unit at, predetermined points in its cutting stroke to insure a scoreIJiine'that is, of

the necessary depth and uniformity throughout its length.

"To illustrate, in new antigensr this" character, the supporting portions. for the cut-1 ting unit are so designed that adefinite right angular relationship is maintained with. the 0116 1. template. In this way, the cutting unitfollows the'arc'u'ate' portionsj'of. said trace and carriesthe cuttingtool in a path'suhstantially parallel towthe, contour of the templatelf "At. the same time;,.dur.-

mgmovement along the template, the cutting unit is gradually. 11and;'f rog'res'sively swun -according to the'curved lineslgenerated to produce.

any' Sideofjthe template outline. or thg comer curve interconnectin anyvtwonofr the sides: thereof,

Consequently, when ,'it .is found necessary, in a desired contour" to he reproduced in the glass; sheet Or plate, that an interconnecting curve he, of materially small 'rajdius,,the,abruptness of swinging movement enfgrcedfupon. the cutting 1 acnims. (01.3347) unit-influences the cutting'jtojolflin a mannent m cause a slurring or irr llla fityv ofccut, .despitethe fact --that'said to'ol is being maintained in contact with the surface to he "cut or scored.

In other words, "thefcuttin'gf tool, :which is, ot the -fol1owing type and normally swivelsabout a vertically disposed. supportinggpost is caused .to, revolve in such an acceleratedgn anner; that the cutting 'edge-ofthe tool is. draggedsalong at times;

at an angle to itS path of travel. Becaus e-;;of this, instead of producing a Eu-niform. score or break-line of the. desiredclarity and. ;d epth.;,thez

1 same:

tool leaves a: ragged, irregular score line that 'm-ater'ially reduces the possibilityo-f'a clean edged; template shaped, final-cut or break; 5 {I According to the present invention, however; there is provided-a retarding element; or c'ush ioned' brakemember, whichreduces the-[speed of the cutting unit during its; "travel around such sharp curves and therefore modifies 'any' natural abruptness ofmovement; without, however; materially impeding the d'es i'red-g continuing Inovea mentc-f the-unit. *In-traversing-corner areas of template contours, traversal motion of the. cutting'um't fromone side-edge to arrothenside edge of the template isthusfjappreciably reduced en-f abling I the cutting m1 to effect afs'cor "of reg'u' 1 vention to provide an improvement jinjznachines of the above-general c aracterwhereby" a moth-'- fyin influence may be-exertedupon the 'operation thereof, such modifying-influencebeing employed to reduce the move ment of without stopping, thecutter portion'ofsuch j machines until a I particular area of the "templates contour has'been traversed;

Anmther object resides in the provision of, a motion retardingnieans 'for' temporarily controlling-therateof;;travel of thecutting element in a template type; cutting machine f'and'particu larly during portions of s "aid' travel where' the cutting eljernenti is caused to more or less change the direction "of its trave1 Another, obj ect of the invention. resides in,,the" provision of an improvement and. for a cut V ting, machine of the. terriplatetype, sa;i;d .in1 prove-- meri comprising a motion retardinggnember lo catedupjon sl'lc'i,machine to engage the cutting, element thereof. duringya portion-of. ,its traversal oi theten plate to assure exact reproductionnof .the templait contour. particu1arly in corner areas thereof.

.Still another. object is the provision in -.such fi=ia' ctittiQQmaehine-pf, a =special"motion retardingmember furthe cutting element ot-said machine;

the-motion retainin member tbeingr of simpie" construction andfiapable :of adjustment wherebyr a 'd l t'mflll nbeican be modified as fou'nd e ary. r i' tion.with the accompanying drawings;

employed fio designatelike parts throughou Q'EhQ T Qbl'eets: and advantages of the invention j .w llejbecome more apparent-during =the course'i of I the following description, whentakeninconnec Fig. l is a plan view of a template cutting machine;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the supporting post for the machine and of a motion retarding device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view of a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially on "the line 44 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of a section taken on line 55 in Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of the motion retarding device;

Fig. '7 is a partial side view of thefsupporting post for the machine and the motion retarding device; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, takenon the line 8-8 as indicated in Fig. 7, of the bearing support for the modified form of device.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the cutting machine illustrated therein comprises a flat horizontal table I for supporting the sheet of glass II during the cutting thereof. Arrangedabove the top of the table [0, in vertically spaced relation thereto, is a horizontal track template I2 having the same configuration as the form of light to be cut from the sheet I I.

As here shown, the track template is provided in the form of a continuous substantially rectangular 100p, portions of the loop conforming to the desired shape of light to be cut whilethe remainder of the loop affords a return area by which the cutting mechanism, as indicated at I3,

moves from the completion of one cut to the 3 starting position for a subsequent cut.

The template is mounted on the table I0 by means of a bracket I4 which is adjustably carried on arail I and secured thereto by screws I6, threaded into the ends of the bracket and adapted to engage the adjacent surfaces of the rail.

unit or head I1, provided with a rotatable steel, follower type, cutting wheel I8 (Figs. 4 and 5),

said unit being adaptable to travelaround the template I2 to score the glass sheet I] along the line indicated at A in Fig. 1. I8 is carried in the cutting unit I! at the end of, and offset from, a supporting post I 9 in the usual manner and by this means the wheel is permitted desired score line.

The cutting mechanism I 3 is adapted to be car:

sections 2| and 22, coacting to open and'clo'se elbow-Wise about a connecting pin 23. illuse trated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingathe arm' section 2| at its end opposite the pin23 is jour-f naled in a bracket 24 mounted on a part of the table I0, (Fig. 2). The arm section 22 will accordingly be carried within the radial'scope of the arm section 21 while being capable of an individual radial movement about the axis of the pin 23.

The cutting mechanism I3, includes a cutting The cutting wheel '50 sufficient amplitude of movement to produce the 65 The outer end of the arm section-'22 is formed "to receive the journal bushings 25 and shaft 26 of the cutting mechanism I3 in Fig. 4. The bushin 25 is fastened by screws to top plate 2'! of a housing 28 of the cutting I mechanism I 3.

The cutter head I! and .the housing28 are associated by means of horizontally iadisp'osed.

parallel rods 29 secured in the. head. "and extending along the sides of the housing. Thev as best seen 4 ends of the rods are tied together to maintain their parallel relation by a cross bar 30. By means of rollers or guide wheels 3| carried by the housing and located in grooved tracks formed in the rods, the head may move relative to the housing while still being normally supported therefrom. The extent of such movement is flexibly affected bymeans of a pair of springs 32, paralleling the rods 29 and connected at their end loops to the housing 28 and to the cutter head II. The springs tend to urge the parts toward each other and thus serve to effectively maintain the bearing members of the housing and cutter head in rolling contact with the track template I2. As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the cutter head I1 is provided with-a bearing roller 33, while the housing 28 has complementary rollers 34 and 35 engaging the opposite edge of the template. The rollers 33, 34 and 35 guide the cutting mechanism I3 along the template I2, While at the same time the rollers 34 and 35provide through suitable gearing the required power for impelling the mechanism to produce the desired cutting action. Thus, the rollers 34 and 35 are driven through a train of gears arranged Within the housing 28 and which include a drive gear 36 and intermediate gear 37. The intermediate gear 3'! is rotatable upon a vertical screw 38 threaded into the top plate 21 'of the housing 28 and is located between the gears 39 and 40 keyed to the shafts 4| and 42 of the rollers 34 and 35, as best seen in Fig. 5.

The drive gear 33 is driven by the shaft 26 through a pin connection 43 and a stub shaft 44 to which the gear 36 is suitably keyed. Traction or motor power, for. the cutting mechanism I3 through the gear 36 and shaft 26, is transmitted by a suitable belt 45 through the pulleys 46 and 47, about which the belt is trained, from a source of power such as the motor48. The pulley 46 is secured to the extending end of the shaft 26 while the pulley 41 is mounted on the pin 23 which is formed to provide a journal support for the pulley. The motor48 is carried. in a frame 49 on a pivoted plate 50 in .order that the belt 45 driven thereby may be subjected at all times to the influence of a tensioning member, as the spring 5|. The motor support frame 49 of the bracket 24.

The cutting'mechanism' 1.3 intraversing the track template l2 causes the cutting whee1'l8,

carried on the cutterhead I1, to produce the as indicated at A. In a great desired score line many instances, the desired contour or shape of lightto be cut does notimp'ose more than the development of rectangular templates having progressively arcuate side portions or substantially straight and/or parallel sides interconnect defined score while moving. the entire cutting mechanism at an established rate of speed. With a reduction of radius, particularly at the second turning corner, however, a problem hasv arisen since, in addition to the travel of the device, the separation or opening of the arm sectors 2| and 22 creates an porarilycontrolled, the momentum of the cutting mechanism I3 carries the device into this area of secured to the top I abrupt whipping action and a consequent vibratory or jarring action that is imparted to the cutting wheel. Unless temteeter-tenant matte-co nector" were sector: 7 n doing, the effector gene-s1; tiavior coarse-asserts *a*1*fi1arity c "transmitted tome movement pr the-p tting td 'iiiii Q v mechanism is from the arm seetion clthrough tract t Yelieve'theabriipt teacher the theoutcr armsecticn '22 shame-tram or the ettnngmcnmsrfi no i the case or particularly wed do'i-i' tiiit'ithe corner area sharp-"corner echoin te a-prerrre' refit. or 'thhf'ihifhtidn azfiotidn retarding creme oqatee o "engage-me arm 20 o 11cm tame template'fahd'to oust-i; the swingihg acti the said mechanisms; 'hoiit tt'bgrauyxrt cine it's regular ate'fo'f tfavel. Th'fietardingeleiiiiii't meets at d cilap's'e anuytc abscrb, within tlicresnfncy-er struttrcaane arrett er "the mechanisms move 4 Y ment While still exerting sufficient resistant race "table ll'l ar'it'lincluded m the contreimctwcr to all'ow'the cutting wheel 18th accommoda e its motor 48 to open thesaid circuit, 'al-lbwiiig} the revolution to {the tontotr tr the path tlir'ug'h "methamsmtotravers'e thc-r nai naertr tli temwhic'h i t"isrriqved':- v 1 g ;'p1a'te |2;by As-shwn 'in'the rawings, theicutting "mecna- 2:, *switifrBl gr'iism l-t starts 'at-the'right hand side or the tiack 'nism c tcmmacr 2-, advances along tcmp ate'ana graanit-d3 stmer'm of dock r 'al'ly-"sWiVels about the shaft 'bu's'hin'g was threaded portio or the rows: be

are new w portion a, tri'arciiate ipor'tionb, and siaepo ion "3- point of engagementat which the header ti-fthe roe whip "contacted by the-sec ncnti or the -c, havin'g,a;s' shown,- an arc-catecontour or greate r *ra'dinsJ- Simultaneously, "the sjecto" and 22 101? the' arm scparateradiany b t tl'feipih'iflt c. 1 .c

' name. arcu'at'e orcornerpcrticn -"ofthe 'tgn- 'plate is approached, the spread relation of the sectors has peccme sufiicieh't to-eiiidi ice a differential ofrn'o'tion, the-inne sector detop of {the tabl ts noispdsitionea agamststcps creasing'the r'ite'of its'filovelfi nt lipbn'lt'shou rial, ii 3 afld 64 rdperly bligh'th fgiasS heet 'WhiIe-tP-ie-"duter sectcr zzi's mova 'm a sweeping 111 withrespefit t0 theterfi 1 -A 'u1tab1e-'With arc aboutftlieipi'vot; gm 2-3. teoehriesstr inttythehbe'operated oclosefa servicecfieuitfto this acncnns cr course im-partedtc the 'armqsecthe motor user the stops "'63 afld'flfhfay b protors by movement'ofthe cutting incliaiiism along "v'i'dd with suitable witch controlling-portions thebdfiiiir iptrtibirt and as it enters the subthat' irl'l ded in he'elt c'al -5i-1tidi='&-fifn stamens s'traiglft pb rti dn e of the track'temv f the mdtiirothit, whn t e glds sh t' l l plate. Thecomb ined resultof the motivated h-of""" stone-metap orsystem- 1s forces acts to produce at the-cutting Wheel I8 a rapid sweeping through-thearc andfbeforethe wheel can accommodate the pathof it'sic'ut without roughness, slurring or irregularity. The motion retardingm'ember, 'howver, engages the arm in le-along tne trac tembti'r is spec ally with tefnplatesof difiernt sliape,

tf'ated ih Fi'gs; 6 to 8, 1 inclusive. While triehrdd traverse the arcuate portion at at a sufficiently fied motion retarding device, indicated generally moderate pace that the cutting wheel l5 will reby the numeral 65, produces a cushioning efiect valve with the supporting post l9 and score a similar to that of the device 52, its manner of line of regularity and depth in keeping with the engagement with the swing arm 20 is particularly remainder of the score line A. adapted for retarding the arm motion previous to As shown, the retarding member 52 comprises and during movement of the cutter mechanism 13 6r ounme, than th at" previously ci'scussea is lHilS- a headed rod 53 and a spring 54. The rod is about corners of especially small radius, such as slidably supported in the wall 55 of a bracket 56 shown at the corner 1 of the template 55.

which is suitably bolted to the adjacent wall of The modified device in form comprises a the bracket 24. The spring is carried by the rodbar 61, pivotally carried on a supporting plate and between the end 51 thereof and the wall of 65 68 attached to the bracket 24, and a tension the bracket 56. Projection of the rod 53 from the spring 69 connected to the bar and to a post 10. bracket under influence of the spring is governed Preferably the bar is curved throughout a porand may be adjusted by a pair of lock nuts 58 ticn of its length to permit movement without thread 011130 e d d bearing against the striking the bracket 24, when the bar is engaged wall 55. As shown in Fig. 3, the rod is located 70 by the inner section 2| of the swing arm 20. A SO that the a 5 thereof W be ged by rolling contact, to reduce friction, is effected by the arm section 2! of the arm 20 when said. arm a bearing roller 1| supported in the end of the section has been rotated to a position as indicated bar. Thus, as the arm sections 2| and 22 open by phantom line in Fig. 1, or as indicated by the elbow-wise and the cutter mechanism I3 is car-' line 59 as shown in Fig. 3. Between the line 59 ried into an area of the template adjacent the into the stud. i

a 7 icorner ;f,rthe section 2 contacts the bearin 'roller'll and causesthe bar 61 to swing about itspivot against the tension of the spring t9. As

the spring becomes distended, its tensional characteristicsinducea gradual resistance to further vmovement of the bar and consequently have a tion; {The sleeve bearing is mountedwon the shouldered base 13 of a stud l4 threaded at its lower-end into'thesupporting plate. The opposite or upper end of the stud'is also threaded to receive a lock nut I5 for securing the bearing 12 between the base ofthe stud and a washer 16.

In order,that the bearing can be constantly fed with; ai lubricant, passageways TLmay be drilled 7 It is-to be understood'thatthe of the in vention,herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments ofl'the same, but that various other changes-in the shape, size, lo-

cation and arrangementof parts may Joe-resorted ;to without departing from the spirit of ithe in- ;vention or the scope of the subjoined claims,

v,WecIaim; 7' .1.. A sheetjcutting machine comprising a sup- .portg-for thesheetto. be cut, a track template ,mounted in spaeed relation to said support and l-having two sides connected by a relatively sharp- 1y curvedporti n f ,0 1 determining the pattern of a cut, a cutting unitadapted to travel along; said template and including a cutting tool engageable with :.-t.he, sheetto be cut and movable with said -cl1,tting unit alonga path icoinciding with said .patternrof cut, a pivoted hinged arm for supporting; the cutting unit during movement along the track template, means for moving said 'unit along ,said' template, a cushioning and speedretalding.member comprising acurved lever arIIi ,pivoted intermediate its ends and so positioned that pivotal i movement. of said lever arm; will cause one end thereof to engage said fi rst-men- 1 tioned arm at the point wherethe lever arm will act, to, reduce the speed of movement ofthe cutting tool assaid tool leaves the portion of its pathdetermined byone of said two sides of the template and moves onto the portion ofitspath determined by said sharply curved portion of othe-template and spring means for urging said le armn g s nt th i ica-me estioned arm v. f

2. ."Ihe combination with ra sheet b ing ma:- chine induc g "a support for the. Sheena; be

5 cut,. ail template "mounted" .inQspaced relation t'o said support and having two "side connected by e t v temme t tem. s ittin unit adapted to travel along said template and including a cutting tool engageable with the sheet to be ,cut, a pivoted hinged arm for supporting thecutting unit asitmoves along the template, and means for; movingsaid-unit therealong, of a cushioning and: movement retarding member-positioned to engage said armassaid cuttingtopl 15 leaves the portiono fdts pathmdetermined byone of said two sides of the template, and moves onto the portion of itspathdetermlnedby said sharp,- 1y curved portion of the template and to subsequently disengage said arm upon continued movementof said cutting tool in the same direction.. 1: I, V f 3." sheet cutting machine comprisinga sup,- port for the sheet to be ,cut, a track template mounted in spaced relation to; sai d; support and having two sides connected by a relatively sharply curved. portion fordetermining --t he;.gpattern of cut, a cutting unit adapted. totravel' 'alongsaid. template and including, a cutting tool-:engageable with the sheet to be cut and movable withls'aid cutting unit alonga path coinciding with said pattern offcut a pivotedhinged arm for supporting the cuttingunitf during movement along the track template, means for moving said unit along said template, and a cushioningand speed retarding member, comprising a, spring pressed plunger positioned to engagesaid' -arm as .said cutting tool leaves theportion of itspath deteremined b oneofsaid tvvo-. sides of the template and m oves onto lthe pOrtiQl'lifOf its pathdetermined by said- .sharply'curved portion .0f,.the template and to subsequently disengage said arm upon ,continued movement of said; cutting 'tool inthe ame direction.

I WILLIAM KiRiiViAN.

s GILBERT 1.; BARNETT, 'BE i fiEN QI Q D 'Thefollowingrreferences are ofrecord in the fil'ewof this patentz V -3 n TE'D I QATEsrAIE'JN' Numb v 3Q V 4. 2 98: tM st r 

